The protein requirements of two strains of laying pullets

Abstract

Diets with 16.5, 14.5, 12.5 and 10.5 per cent protein and 2765 k cal. metabolisable energy per kg. and a fifth diet containing 10.5 per cent protein and 2165 k cal. M.E./kg. were fed to Rhode Island Red x Light Sussex pullets and to “hybrid” pullets which weighed 33 per cent less and produced 20 per cent more eggs. Both strains had protein requirements of the order of 20 g./bird/day. It is possible that the assumed higher requirement of the “hybrid” pullets for productive purposes was offset by a smaller requirement for maintenance and growth. Expressed as a percentage of a 2765 k cal. diet, the small strain required at least 16.5 per cent protein and the large strain no more than 12.5 per cent protein for maximum performance. Both strains performed well on the 2165 k cal., 10.5 per cent protein diet, illustrating that high energy diets are not essential for small strains of pullets. Egg size was reduced by protein restriction in the heavy strain but not in the light strain. On isocaloric diets the light strain consumed more food only at the lowest protein level whereas the heavy strain tended to eat progressively more as the protein was reduced from 16.5 to 12.5 per cent. When offered the low energy diet both strains ate more food, but substantially fewer calories, than when given diets of 2765 k cal. M.E./kg. Protein restriction had a marked effect in reducing live‐weight gains. Energy level of the diet had a large effect on weight gain and also on fat deposition in the carcass. The greatest differences in performance due to diet did not occur at the time of maximum egg output. The evidence indicates that a diet which is too low in protein to support peak egg production will also fail to support normal egg production at any later stage of the laying year.